PowerCom employs a comprehensive methodology that reduces complexity and uncertainty from end to end, ensuring superior, customized Integrated Smart Metering solutions for utilities. From initial project analysis to ?nal deployment and beyond, PowerCom supports the delivery of the solution on a turnkey basis.

PowerCom can assist in the preparation of a project master plan. To guarantee the performance of the end-to-end solution as well as its on-time delivery to full specification PowerCom offers project management services such as project plan development, risk management, quality management, multi-vendor contracting and more. The master communication plan contributes to the development of a high-level target reference architecture that guides network and operations planning, paying specific attention to CAPEX and OPEX investments and the trade-off between the performance of new technology and security/availability requirements. PowerCom’s lead architect is responsible for developing the solution road-map. For each road-map progress point, PowerCom manages the design and architecture of the overall network and subsystems for both hardware and software.

End-to-end integration, tests and validation ensures mission critical service requirements are met. When a solution is particularly complex, PowerCom offers a hosted lab environment for testing, and also supports trials on the customer’s own premises. The challenge is to integrate disparate multi-vendor, multi-technology systems into an effective smart metering solution. Testing makes sure the turnkey solution is compatible with each utility’s specific requirements.

PowerCom can guide the development of all processes, methods, and procedures necessary to get a customer’s end-to-end solution up and running. We also install and commission hardware and software and perform field-level testing. This service is available for initial deployments as well as future ‘scaling’ deployments. PowerCom helps define migration strategy objectives, success criteria and associated scope, ensuring that all activities and their inter-dependencies are carefully managed for zero disruption of the utility’s supply to customers. PowerCom can provide full support for operations and maintenance with cost-effective outsourcing agreements covering some or all aspects of its smart metering solution, including managed field operations, multi-vendor maintenance, managed network operations and managed security. Through these agreements, PowerCom takes full responsibility for the smart metering system while generating OPEX savings for the utility operator.